UPC checker for listings

[ewsupply]

Does ebay use a specific provider for its UPC reference checker when you list an item so some of the fields are filled out for you? Sometimes an item is not found even though that product is not dated at all.

[mam98031]

If it finds the UPC, it means it is in Ebay's catalog.  You will then be given a choice to use the catalog description or your own.

If it doesn't find the UPC, you are free to fill out the information.

[ewsupply]

That I get. To clarify does the data come from another company with the 'golden source' for this info? Sellers can arbitrarily put any UPC (or SKU) as you indicate so then that catalog Ebay maintains becomes polluted over time...

[mam98031]

I comes from the Ebay Catalog as I previously said.

And yes, sellers can put in fake UPCs if they want, however I don't know why someone would do that.  If you don't have a real UPC, just put in N/A.

[richard1rst]

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@mam98031 wrote:

I comes from the Ebay Catalog as I previously said.

And yes, sellers can put in fake UPCs if they want, however I don't know why someone would do that.  If you don't have a real UPC, just put in N/A.

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Agree with the above. Although eBay apparently does not check to be sure it is matches the item they do apply the "check digit" test. So if you are going to use a fake UPC it has to be a validly constructed  UPC number not just a random sting of 12 numbers. Otherwise eBay will reject it.

[slippinjimmy]

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@ewsupply wrote:

To clarify does the data come from another company with the 'golden source' for this info?

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In the beginnings of the eBay Catalog when it covered only Music and Books the info came from outside sources. The music stuff from the same company that 75 years ago produced those massive paper catalogs you could find in larger record stores (I forget t he name).

Over the last 10 years or so they have been collecting info used by eBay sellers and also probably sourced info from major Brands.

I sell in the Music Category but I never use the Catalog, a lot of what I sell predates UPC codes so they are not in there, some companies use the same UPC for a limited edition version that they then use on the regular version. The one time I used the catalog I messed up and used the entry for a limited version for the regular version and I used the details in my listings.

When it sold and the buyer complained I found my mistake and vowed never to use the eBay pre-filled info.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

The definitive database for UPCs, GTINs and EANs is the GS1 database.